The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-13

ARYl3, 1887.
A GREAT SWINDLER
WHO GULLED wAsIIINGToNIAN.
Aud Wa. FINALLY Compelled to Leave tn
City-Pos,ng In London ms Confidential
Agent OF the United States.
! a Slick Citizen.
NEw York, Jan. IA special from
Washington gives an account OF the cares
Of noted American fraud. Tho advent
urer's name Is Henry H. Finlay. II,
belongs to the higher rank OF Judges ant
Colonels who infest Washington and whe
live upon tho iucredullty Of simgle.mind
ed people. Mr.. Finlay left Washington
several months ago under cloud. HI
was officially connected with the Anglo
American Insurance Company, which hat
as capital stock In trade marble counte,
and plate glass window. It was said
Of this company that 1t took in premiums
and issued policies upon the most liberal
terms until serious loes came to the office
for payment and then the office closed,
The authorities here finally got after the
company, and nearly year ago the off.
cia!s scattered In various directions. Fin.
lay went to London, the president OF the
company to Mexico, and others connected
with the company went in other direc.
tions. And now comes the news from
London that Finlay has appeared in that
city, and that he Is making free with tall
stories about bis reasons for being there.
He has represented himself as holding
different confidential positions under the
United States Government. Some OF these
Representations have sheen made publicly
and others have been communicated In
discreet confidence. To one gentleman he
has asserted that he WAS MIR. Tilden's con.
adentisl agent and that to him was con.
aded the care and disbursement OF the
campaign fund expended for Mr.. Tilden
In 1876. Then, for the purpose, apparent.
ly, OF creating strong impression OF his
greatness at home, he has represented
that he Is in London on special and pri-
vate mission for Mr.. Bayard, for whom he
has high regard. This Especial and pri.
vate mission" is one OF inspection OF the
different consulates and the legation, and
It is made particularly to enable the
State Department, upon his report, to de-
eide wholshould be retained and who put
out.
| = LONDON FINANcIRRs GULLED.
He seems to have inspired men OF bust.
ness with degree Of confidence in him
that he has allowed them 10 listen and be.
lieve when he told bankers and inanciers
that Secretary Manning sent him to Lon
don ito get the feeling OF the tinanciers
In the great financial centre Of the world
in regard to the silver question:" In his
attempt to give the impression he has
succeeded amazingly we'll, and certainly to
an extent that would lead Americans to
conclude that 1t Is easier for garrulous
blowhard to get along in London than it
Is in New York among keen business
men. He has become acquainted with
some very good people, received invita-
tions to many. excellent dinners and at
table has ratified on in conversation with
a good word for anybody except for the
late Mr.. Tilden.
"Big" Finlay's yarns are told in way
that is intended to be impressive, and to
persons who do not imagine how great a
fraud be is they have been deceived as
semi-ofticial. One Of his new.fourd
friends, who was u warm friend OF Card
inal Manning, secured for him the favor
OF an interview with the Cardinal. One
incident Of his life ip London is asserted
to be as true as it is base in character.
Being invited to stop with friend, and
being given room in his friends house
opposite to his library, he inspected all
the private letters Of his host, read his
letter books, got the names Of individuals
with whom the friend had confidential re-
lations, and then vipited these individuals
to say that he wss the friends confidential
attorney. The result Was that he nearly
ruined his hosts business.
| Among the other claims put forth by
"Oolonel" Finisy, is one that he is the
special attorney for the Alaska Fur Com
pany, and that be is paid $4,000 a year
for his services to that corporation.
The President, notwithstanding he had
told "Big" Finlsy to take the refusal OF
the Paris Consul. Generalship, is spoken
Of as "pig-headed." Secretary Bayard,
who has imposed upon him, according to
his own story, delicate and important
mission Of inspection is altogether too
allow. Secretary Manning, who has, as the
colossal Finlsy represents, also conferred
duties upon him, is described as an "accl-
dent" Minister Phelps, he is bound to
Say, although he is cousin Of the "Col-
onel's" mother, is "S. O. g." Consul
General Waller, he represents, is indebted
TO him for having been nominated and
elected Governor Of Connecticut, and yet
he Is repeating, with more or less inac-
curacy, the familiar story OF Governor
Waller's Obscure origin and distressing
early life, story very familiar to every
body who has read anything about the
genial Consul. General at London.
HIS WASHINGTON CAREER. y.
Finlsy's career in Washington dates
from tho campaign Of 1876. He came ORR
ginally from Detroit, Mich. His was
pretty well known in Chicago fifteen years
ago. He pretended to be an intimate
friend to Wilbur F. Storey, late editor Of
the Chicago Times. Finlsy is tall, broad
shouldered, heavy figured man, with a
rather imposing manner to those who are
familiar with the ways Of the world. His
conversation consisted Of series OF mys-
terious whispers concerning inside views.
Finley never had any outside views about
anything. He acquired his title Of Colonel
in combat before the Washington bars.
In the campaign Of 1875 he went to Mr..
Tilden and obtained employment about
the Democratic Committee headquarters.
There is no doubt that he obtained this
employment through his alleged relation.
ship with Wilbur F. Storey.
Finlay was actually sent to Indiana to
look over the campaign in that State and
report. He had regular employment
from the Democratic Committee, but they
very early discovered his calibre and
- 81. IL ~ sAf